Best Candy Options for Halloween Trick or Treating
Halloween is almost upon us, and soon all those little goblins, ghouls, and witches will be lining up at your door with hands outstretched. Most candy, especially those that are chewy and sticky, and those that take long to dissolve in the mouth like hard candies, are very bad for the teeth. They either can get stuck between teeth and coat the teeth with sugar, which harmful bacteria love to feed on, or continually bathe the teeth in acid and sugar, which is equally as damaging. For trick or treating time this All Hallows Eve, we have come up with some examples of better candy choices to give out. Here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, your Vancouver WA dental office of choice, we know that Halloween wouldn’t be the same without treats, so here’s our list of recommendations: Chocolate Since chocolate melts fairly quickly in your mouth, and because it contains calcium which can be good for teeth, it is an excellent choice to hand out. It is best as plain chocolate, without the gooey or chewy centers, which could get lodged in teeth. The smaller bars and boxes that Halloween chocolates often come as also limit the serving size of these treats, which means less in a child’s mouths at a time. Sugar-free Options Sugar-free treats, such as gum or lollipops, can actually stimulate saliva in the little mouths. Saliva is beneficial to the teeth because it can cut down on germs and help prevent tooth decay. Sugar-free gum comes in many flavors and best of all, it usually only contains less than 5 calories per stick. Even the American Dental Association recommends sugar-free gum as good choice for Halloween treats. Powder Based Treats Options like Pixy Stix or Sweet Tarts are full of sugar, that’s true, but they also do dissolve rapidly in the mouth. Sometimes these types are applied directly on the tongue. This means since they don’t stick around, their impact is less then choices like hard candies or those sticky, taffy types. Juice Boxes All natural juice in boxes is great for teeth and may help keep the little ones hydrated on their trick or treat trek. Try to find options that are 100% juice and have no sugar added, as these will be better for teeth. Often children are very thirsty from all that walking around, so some refreshing liquid might be just what they are craving. Non-Candy Treats Though no one wants to be known as the house without candy, there are some pretty cool non-candy treats that you can hand out. Think about supplying mini cans of play dough, bouncy balls, bottles of bubbles, glow sticks, vampire teeth, or temporary tattoos instead of candy this year. Other Tips Another trick for parents is to feed children before they go out trick or treating. That way they will have a full stomach and are less likely to start binging on their haul before they get home. It also best to limit the amount of candy your child consumes at once too. Coming up with plan to only partake in their sweets after a meal, and making sure that they are brushing twice a day, is also recommended. As your dentist in Vancouver, WA, we want you and your children’s teeth to be as healthy as they can. If you have any questions about teeth or oral care, please contact us today!
Is an Electronic Toothbrush Right for You?
Here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, we get a lot of patients who ask us about creative ways to care for their teeth. We often say one of the best things you can do for your smile is to buy an electronic toothbrush. Electronic toothbrushes are often better and more superior than regular toothbrushes because they have a timer and are more gentle on the gums tissue. Although using an electronic toothbrush is not for everyone, read further to see if an electronic toothbrush is the best fit for you. Electronic toothbrushes are a great way to keep your teeth clean. There have been many studies that indicated using the electronic toothbrush has an edge over the handheld toothbrushes. This is because it reduces plaque and gingivitis in the short and long-term with a gentle timed circular brushing motion. Electronic toothbrushes are good for people with arthritis or people who need to handle their toothbrush with more control, because it will result in cleaner teeth and gums for these people. Dentist near Baberton, WA, Dr. Dale Nelson says that there are many types of toothbrushes that are electronic for you to look at, some require batteries and some require just plugging into the wall. It pays to do research and find which style works best for you. Electronic toothbrush’s have a timer which makes it easy to push the start button and continue brushing until it is over, this allows people to clean their teeth more accurately. Electronic toothbrushes do a deep down teeth cleaning and your teeth and gums will be very healthy. It will reduce gingivitis, in addition it is ideal for anyone who is suffering from any conditions of painful teeth and gums to consult with Dr. Nelson first, we are here to help you. If you use a manual toothbrush you may realize that sometimes it doesn’t get all of your teeth as clean as possible. It’s important to note that teeth are brushed to hard and the tissue around your teeth and gums can become damaged. Whereas an electronic toothbrush requires less pressure and it often leaves the gum tissue with minimal damage. If you’ve been using a manual toothbrush and that works for you, continue to use it. The most important thing is that you practice good oral health care habits. Dr. Nelson wants to remind you that as long is your practicing good oral health care habits and flossing at least once a day your teeth will be healthy. No matter what you choose whether it’s electronic toothbrush or manual toothbrush.
Worst Labor Day Foods for Your Teeth
Here at Salmon Creek Family Dental, we want to wish you a happy holiday and hope that you and your loved ones enjoy this Labor Day. This holiday weekend, like most other holidays, is a great time to relax and connect with family and friends. However, holidays are also a time when many of us eat extra food and use the “holiday” as an excuse to eat as much as we want without thinking about our health consequences. Fall is among us, so why not make healthy eating choices now, so you can have a good head start on the next few months. Many people gain weight in the fall and winter months, because of the extra holidays and colder weather, which makes people want to stay indoors. Since fall is getting started it is important to make healthy choices through the weekend. You might as well focus on good foods starting this weekend. Of course Labor Day weekend is the last summer shabang, but that doesn’t mean you have to go all crazy and eat whatever you want. You can pick healthy foods that are good for your health and teeth. Doctor Nelson, an expert in dentistry for children in Salmon Creek, WA, often educates patients about the best and worst foods for your teeth. Researchers at the University of Washington School of Dentistry discovered that diets that damage teeth might also be bad for the body. The Doctor knows that foods that contain high sugar levels have long been thought to damage teeth. These same sugars can damage other aspects of your body. This Labor Day, you may be inclined to over eat. But before you do, think about your teeth and how your actions now, can impact the health of your teeth in the future. Make wise choices now for a happy healthy month. No BBQ Sauce Avoid BBQ sauce on you meat. It is loaded with sugar that can damage your teeth. BBQ sauce can make your foods taste great, but it is not healthy for your smile. The sugars in the sauce can penetrate into your teeth and cause tooth decay. Try to limit or remove added condiments from your diet. Pick Fish Labor Day is all about the tasty foods, like ribs, hamburgers, and hot dogs galore. But this weekend put your future self into the present and think of how healthy and happy you will feel after the weekend is over if you choose not to overindulge. Instead of eating all the regular meats, pick fish. Fish is extremely high in powerful nutrients; it will help keep not only your body in shape but also your teeth and gums. We found a recent study that shows that eating fish and consuming fish oil may help reduce symptoms of periodontitis, inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth. We always ask out patients about their diet, because it does play an important role in your oral health. There are many benefits of eating a healthy diet. And although the holiday is here, recognize that you can still have a great weekend and pick foods and beverages that are good for you and your teeth. After all, by making healthy choices now, you will be smiling long after the festivities are over. Happy Labor Day from all of us at Salmon Creek Dental. May you be happy and healthy.